AUCTORES
Globalize your Research
Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2690-8794/076
*Corresponding Author: Smaroula Divani, Department of Clinical Cytology, General Hospital of Volos, Volos, Magnesia-Thessaly, Greece
Citation: Divani S., Kalodimos G, Skoufogiannis P., Kitsakis G., Fericean A., Bamiha A. (2021) Is it possible to eliminate the number of inappropriate thyroid surgeries combining scintigraphy and cytology? Clinical Medical Reviews and Reports. 3(5); DOI: 10.31579/2690-8794/076
Copyright: © 2021, Divani S., This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received: 02 March 2021 | Accepted: 10 April 2021 | Published: 07 May 2021
Keywords: thyroid gland, fine needle aspiration, scintigraphy, thyroid surgery
Objective: Although fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the most reliable, safe and accurate method for the clinical management of abnormal thyroid nodules, 5%-15% of cases lead to indeterminate diagnoses and surgery is the recommended practice for them as they may be malignant. Nevertheless, the majority of cases with indeterminate cytology are benign, so the risk of unnecessary surgery is significant. In our study we combined FNAC and scintigraphy in order to reduce the number of inappropriate surgeries.
Subjects and Methods: From 219 patients with thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology 33(9 males and 24 females) aged 18-73 years, had indeterminate FNAC diagnoses and were referred for scintigraphy. Surgery was performed in all cases. The results of FNAC, scintigraphy and histology were collected and compared.
Results: From 33 cases with indeterminate cytology 32 had a benign histological diagnosis and only one was malignant (follicular Ca). That case had a positive scan. All cases with negative thyroid scans (29/33) were benign. False positive scans were 3, whereas one scan was true positive with final diagnosis follicular carcinoma.
Conclusion: This study showed that combining the FNAC with the thyroid scintigraphy in cases of thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology it is possible to reduce the number of inappropriate surgeries from 32 to 3.
Although thyroid nodules are not a rare problem and it is well known that most of them are a result of a benign disease process, it is clinically important to exclude malignancy.
Thyroid nodules are usually asymptomatic and found on physical examination or incidentally with the use of sensitive imaging techniques. Nodules of various sizes are being detected in up to 65% of the general population (more frequent in women) but only about 4%-6, 5% of all thyroid nodules are found to be malignant [1].
The techniques used to detect malignant cases include ultrasonography, thyroid scintigraphy, serum markers, fine needle aspiration cytology as well as molecular biomarkers that can be powerful adjunct to cytology.
Thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the most reliable, safe and accurate method particularly under ultrasound guidance (US FNAC) in order to decrease the rate of false negative or non-diagnostic cases [1, 2].However the cytological findings from approximately 20%-30% of cases lead to indeterminate diagnoses and performing ultrasound guidance there is a 5%-15% risk of non diagnostic cytology [3-9].
Cases of follicular lesions cannot be accurately evaluated since it is not possible to exclude capsular or vascular invasion [10, 11]. The vast majority of cases with indeterminate cytology are benign, so the risk of unnecessary surgery is significant [12-14]. Thyroid scintigraphy remains critical for the evaluation of autonomously functioning thyroid tissue [15].
In this study we combined FNAC and scintigraphy in order to have the right preoperative selection of patients and reduce the number of inappropriate surgeries.
Thirty three patients that fell into an indeterminate category after FNAC, were selected for the current study. All were patients with single nodules more than 1cm in size. The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 73 years with mean age 39 years. Twenty four patients were females and 9 were males (male to female ratio 3/8). The selected cases had recommendations for FNAC based on experts opinion, mainly suspicious sonographic and/or clinical features.
Before injection patient stayed at a quite environment.The thyroid scans were obtained after intravenous administration of 100MBq of technetium-99m pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) and they were imaged on a dual-head Siemens gamma camera (E- Cam, Siemens Electronics, Erlangen, Germany) 20 and 60 minutes later. All scans were obtained in the anterior position.
Final histological diagnoses were evaluated by threeexperienced pathologists after surgery in all 33 patients.
The results of FNAC, scintigraphy and histology were compared.
From 32 cases with histologically benign diagnosis (Table 1), 29 cases had negative thyroid scans (Figure 1).
Three patients with follicular adenoma had false positive scans (false positive results by scintigraphy).
However all cases with negative thyroid scans (29/33) proved to be benign histologically (11 cases with hyperplastic goiter, 17 with colloid goiter and 1 with follicular adenoma).
The only one patient with follicular carcinoma (Figure 2) but non-diagnostic cytology had a positive scan.
Thirty two out of 33 cases that were not diagnostic cytologically had benign final histologic diagnoses, so the risk of missing carcinomas by FNAC proved to be very low 1/33. Scintigraphy gave positive results in 4 cases 4/33 (1 true positive and 3 false positive.)
In conclusion, fine needle aspiration of the thyroid proved to be a reliable, inexpensive, sensitive and specific procedure for discriminating between surgical and non-surgical nodules [16-22]. It offers the best preoperative assessment of solitary thyroid nodules [23]. However diagnostic difficulties appear in many cases leading to 5%-20% non diagnostic cases. Follicular lesions including follicular-the most common-variant of papillary carcinoma, must be accurately diagnosed (gray zone).
For indeterminate cases surgery is still the current recommended practice, as they may harbor neoplastic potential [24, 25].
Immunocytochemistry and molecular testing are a powerful adjunct to cytology, incorporated in the algorithms of the American Thyroid Association guidelines [8] that are used to manage patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules.
In our study one out of thirty three cases with non diagnostic cytology revealed malignancy, whereas the remaining large majority of cases had benign final histological results, concerning mainly colloid goiter and hyperplastic goiter.
It is well known that the probability of thyroid malignancy is higher in hypofunctioning nodules and thyroid scintigraphy is the only test able to show the presence of autonomously functioning thyroid tissue.
The specificity of thyroid scan was found to be 20%-21, 1% [26-28]. However the specificity is 88% in other studies [4]. Many researchers agree that thyroid scans are not sufficient to rule out surgery and cannot be used as a routine technique.
In our study all patients with negative thyroid scans had benign histological diagnoses, on the contrary in the positive scans there were three false positive cases.
Combining the fine needle aspiration cytology with the thyroid scintigraphy in cases of thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology, we have the opportunity to reduce the number of inappropriate surgeries [29].
Our results show that unnecessary surgery could have been reduced from 32 to 3 cases combining cytology and scintigraphy.
Since the majority of the patients with indeterminate cytology do not have cancer and scintigraphy can detect the benign cases, it seems advisable to perform thyroid scans in order to eliminate the number of inappropriate thyroid surgeries.
Clearly Auctoresonline and particularly Psychology and Mental Health Care Journal is dedicated to improving health care services for individuals and populations. The editorial boards' ability to efficiently recognize and share the global importance of health literacy with a variety of stakeholders. Auctoresonline publishing platform can be used to facilitate of optimal client-based services and should be added to health care professionals' repertoire of evidence-based health care resources.
Journal of Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Intervention The submission and review process was adequate. However I think that the publication total value should have been enlightened in early fases. Thank you for all.
Journal of Women Health Care and Issues By the present mail, I want to say thank to you and tour colleagues for facilitating my published article. Specially thank you for the peer review process, support from the editorial office. I appreciate positively the quality of your journal.
Journal of Clinical Research and Reports I would be very delighted to submit my testimonial regarding the reviewer board and the editorial office. The reviewer board were accurate and helpful regarding any modifications for my manuscript. And the editorial office were very helpful and supportive in contacting and monitoring with any update and offering help. It was my pleasure to contribute with your promising Journal and I am looking forward for more collaboration.
We would like to thank the Journal of Thoracic Disease and Cardiothoracic Surgery because of the services they provided us for our articles. The peer-review process was done in a very excellent time manner, and the opinions of the reviewers helped us to improve our manuscript further. The editorial office had an outstanding correspondence with us and guided us in many ways. During a hard time of the pandemic that is affecting every one of us tremendously, the editorial office helped us make everything easier for publishing scientific work. Hope for a more scientific relationship with your Journal.
The peer-review process which consisted high quality queries on the paper. I did answer six reviewers’ questions and comments before the paper was accepted. The support from the editorial office is excellent.
Journal of Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery. I had the experience of publishing a research article recently. The whole process was simple from submission to publication. The reviewers made specific and valuable recommendations and corrections that improved the quality of my publication. I strongly recommend this Journal.
Dr. Katarzyna Byczkowska My testimonial covering: "The peer review process is quick and effective. The support from the editorial office is very professional and friendly. Quality of the Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions is scientific and publishes ground-breaking research on cardiology that is useful for other professionals in the field.
Thank you most sincerely, with regard to the support you have given in relation to the reviewing process and the processing of my article entitled "Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of The Prostate Gland: A Review and Update" for publication in your esteemed Journal, Journal of Cancer Research and Cellular Therapeutics". The editorial team has been very supportive.
Testimony of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology: work with your Reviews has been a educational and constructive experience. The editorial office were very helpful and supportive. It was a pleasure to contribute to your Journal.
Dr. Bernard Terkimbi Utoo, I am happy to publish my scientific work in Journal of Women Health Care and Issues (JWHCI). The manuscript submission was seamless and peer review process was top notch. I was amazed that 4 reviewers worked on the manuscript which made it a highly technical, standard and excellent quality paper. I appreciate the format and consideration for the APC as well as the speed of publication. It is my pleasure to continue with this scientific relationship with the esteem JWHCI.
This is an acknowledgment for peer reviewers, editorial board of Journal of Clinical Research and Reports. They show a lot of consideration for us as publishers for our research article “Evaluation of the different factors associated with side effects of COVID-19 vaccination on medical students, Mutah university, Al-Karak, Jordan”, in a very professional and easy way. This journal is one of outstanding medical journal.
Dear Hao Jiang, to Journal of Nutrition and Food Processing We greatly appreciate the efficient, professional and rapid processing of our paper by your team. If there is anything else we should do, please do not hesitate to let us know. On behalf of my co-authors, we would like to express our great appreciation to editor and reviewers.
As an author who has recently published in the journal "Brain and Neurological Disorders". I am delighted to provide a testimonial on the peer review process, editorial office support, and the overall quality of the journal. The peer review process at Brain and Neurological Disorders is rigorous and meticulous, ensuring that only high-quality, evidence-based research is published. The reviewers are experts in their fields, and their comments and suggestions were constructive and helped improve the quality of my manuscript. The review process was timely and efficient, with clear communication from the editorial office at each stage. The support from the editorial office was exceptional throughout the entire process. The editorial staff was responsive, professional, and always willing to help. They provided valuable guidance on formatting, structure, and ethical considerations, making the submission process seamless. Moreover, they kept me informed about the status of my manuscript and provided timely updates, which made the process less stressful. The journal Brain and Neurological Disorders is of the highest quality, with a strong focus on publishing cutting-edge research in the field of neurology. The articles published in this journal are well-researched, rigorously peer-reviewed, and written by experts in the field. The journal maintains high standards, ensuring that readers are provided with the most up-to-date and reliable information on brain and neurological disorders. In conclusion, I had a wonderful experience publishing in Brain and Neurological Disorders. The peer review process was thorough, the editorial office provided exceptional support, and the journal's quality is second to none. I would highly recommend this journal to any researcher working in the field of neurology and brain disorders.
Dear Agrippa Hilda, Journal of Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery, Editorial Coordinator, I trust this message finds you well. I want to extend my appreciation for considering my article for publication in your esteemed journal. I am pleased to provide a testimonial regarding the peer review process and the support received from your editorial office. The peer review process for my paper was carried out in a highly professional and thorough manner. The feedback and comments provided by the authors were constructive and very useful in improving the quality of the manuscript. This rigorous assessment process undoubtedly contributes to the high standards maintained by your journal.
International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews. I strongly recommend to consider submitting your work to this high-quality journal. The support and availability of the Editorial staff is outstanding and the review process was both efficient and rigorous.
Thank you very much for publishing my Research Article titled “Comparing Treatment Outcome Of Allergic Rhinitis Patients After Using Fluticasone Nasal Spray And Nasal Douching" in the Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology. As Medical Professionals we are immensely benefited from study of various informative Articles and Papers published in this high quality Journal. I look forward to enriching my knowledge by regular study of the Journal and contribute my future work in the field of ENT through the Journal for use by the medical fraternity. The support from the Editorial office was excellent and very prompt. I also welcome the comments received from the readers of my Research Article.
Dear Erica Kelsey, Editorial Coordinator of Cancer Research and Cellular Therapeutics Our team is very satisfied with the processing of our paper by your journal. That was fast, efficient, rigorous, but without unnecessary complications. We appreciated the very short time between the submission of the paper and its publication on line on your site.
I am very glad to say that the peer review process is very successful and fast and support from the Editorial Office. Therefore, I would like to continue our scientific relationship for a long time. And I especially thank you for your kindly attention towards my article. Have a good day!
"We recently published an article entitled “Influence of beta-Cyclodextrins upon the Degradation of Carbofuran Derivatives under Alkaline Conditions" in the Journal of “Pesticides and Biofertilizers” to show that the cyclodextrins protect the carbamates increasing their half-life time in the presence of basic conditions This will be very helpful to understand carbofuran behaviour in the analytical, agro-environmental and food areas. We greatly appreciated the interaction with the editor and the editorial team; we were particularly well accompanied during the course of the revision process, since all various steps towards publication were short and without delay".
I would like to express my gratitude towards you process of article review and submission. I found this to be very fair and expedient. Your follow up has been excellent. I have many publications in national and international journal and your process has been one of the best so far. Keep up the great work.
We are grateful for this opportunity to provide a glowing recommendation to the Journal of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. We found that the editorial team were very supportive, helpful, kept us abreast of timelines and over all very professional in nature. The peer review process was rigorous, efficient and constructive that really enhanced our article submission. The experience with this journal remains one of our best ever and we look forward to providing future submissions in the near future.
I am very pleased to serve as EBM of the journal, I hope many years of my experience in stem cells can help the journal from one way or another. As we know, stem cells hold great potential for regenerative medicine, which are mostly used to promote the repair response of diseased, dysfunctional or injured tissue using stem cells or their derivatives. I think Stem Cell Research and Therapeutics International is a great platform to publish and share the understanding towards the biology and translational or clinical application of stem cells.
I would like to give my testimony in the support I have got by the peer review process and to support the editorial office where they were of asset to support young author like me to be encouraged to publish their work in your respected journal and globalize and share knowledge across the globe. I really give my great gratitude to your journal and the peer review including the editorial office.
I am delighted to publish our manuscript entitled "A Perspective on Cocaine Induced Stroke - Its Mechanisms and Management" in the Journal of Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery. The peer review process, support from the editorial office, and quality of the journal are excellent. The manuscripts published are of high quality and of excellent scientific value. I recommend this journal very much to colleagues.
Dr.Tania Muñoz, My experience as researcher and author of a review article in The Journal Clinical Cardiology and Interventions has been very enriching and stimulating. The editorial team is excellent, performs its work with absolute responsibility and delivery. They are proactive, dynamic and receptive to all proposals. Supporting at all times the vast universe of authors who choose them as an option for publication. The team of review specialists, members of the editorial board, are brilliant professionals, with remarkable performance in medical research and scientific methodology. Together they form a frontline team that consolidates the JCCI as a magnificent option for the publication and review of high-level medical articles and broad collective interest. I am honored to be able to share my review article and open to receive all your comments.
“The peer review process of JPMHC is quick and effective. Authors are benefited by good and professional reviewers with huge experience in the field of psychology and mental health. The support from the editorial office is very professional. People to contact to are friendly and happy to help and assist any query authors might have. Quality of the Journal is scientific and publishes ground-breaking research on mental health that is useful for other professionals in the field”.
Dear editorial department: On behalf of our team, I hereby certify the reliability and superiority of the International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews in the peer review process, editorial support, and journal quality. Firstly, the peer review process of the International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews is rigorous, fair, transparent, fast, and of high quality. The editorial department invites experts from relevant fields as anonymous reviewers to review all submitted manuscripts. These experts have rich academic backgrounds and experience, and can accurately evaluate the academic quality, originality, and suitability of manuscripts. The editorial department is committed to ensuring the rigor of the peer review process, while also making every effort to ensure a fast review cycle to meet the needs of authors and the academic community. Secondly, the editorial team of the International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews is composed of a group of senior scholars and professionals with rich experience and professional knowledge in related fields. The editorial department is committed to assisting authors in improving their manuscripts, ensuring their academic accuracy, clarity, and completeness. Editors actively collaborate with authors, providing useful suggestions and feedback to promote the improvement and development of the manuscript. We believe that the support of the editorial department is one of the key factors in ensuring the quality of the journal. Finally, the International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews is renowned for its high- quality articles and strict academic standards. The editorial department is committed to publishing innovative and academically valuable research results to promote the development and progress of related fields. The International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews is reasonably priced and ensures excellent service and quality ratio, allowing authors to obtain high-level academic publishing opportunities in an affordable manner. I hereby solemnly declare that the International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews has a high level of credibility and superiority in terms of peer review process, editorial support, reasonable fees, and journal quality. Sincerely, Rui Tao.
Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions I testity the covering of the peer review process, support from the editorial office, and quality of the journal.
